Self-operated airplane swing



Feb. 10 1953 M. E.'WALTER 2,627,896

SELF-OPERATED AIRPLANE SWING Filed June 6, 1946 Patented Feb. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SELF-OPERATED AIRPLANE SWING Martin E. Walter, Clarinda, Iowa Application June 6, 1946, Serial No. 674,863

7 Claims. (01. 155-65) The principal object of this invention is to provide a swing of simple construction having the appearance of an airplane and capable of being operated solely by the user.

A further object of my invention is to provide an airplane swing that can be operated by either the hands or feet or by both the hands'and feet in conjunction with one another, thereby providing excellent body exercise for the child or person using the device.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a swing that has a seat and horizontal rests for both hands and both feet, thereby providing a swing that is safe even for small children.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a swing that can be easily mounted or dismounted and with its operating mechanism so designed that there is no danger of injury to the user.

A further object of this invention is to provide a self-operated airplane swing that is economical in manufacture and durable in use.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective View of my device in normal installed position.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the swing and more fully illustrates its construction. I

Fig. 3 is a side view of the swing and more fully illustrates the method of operation.

Fig. 4 is a reduced side view of the swing illustrating its method of mounting.

Self-propelled swings are not new in the art, but most of such swings are either not attractive for the use of children, or are extremely complicated and in most instances provide objectionable operating mechanism capable of pinching or injuring the user. I have overcome such disadvantages as will hereinafter be explained.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral l6 designates an elongated board with itslength extending horizontal and its width vertical. This member I0 is cut to represent the fuselageand vertical tail fin of an airplane. The numerals I l and I2 designate horizontal stabilizers cut and secured to the tail portion of the member Ill. The numeral 13 designates a horizontal board transversely secured to the top of the member l0, forward of its center, and forming the wing 2 1 portionof the swing. The numerals l t and i5 designate circular cut-out portions in the forward leading edge of the wing l3, close to and adjacent the side planes of the member III, as shown in Fig. 2.

The center portion of the top of the member l3 provides a seat for the user and the cut-away portions l4 and I5 permit the legs of the user to extend downwardly and forwardly. The numeral l6 designates a back board for the back of the user secured to the center trailing edge of the wing portion l3. This member I6 is semicircular to give a rounded appearance to the fuselage. The numerals I1 and I8 designate two bars at each side of the forward portion of the member [0 and pivoted thereto near their centers by a pin I9. The numeral 20 designates a rod secured to and extending through the lower ends of the bars I1 and Hi. This member 20 forms the rest for the two feet of the user. The numeral 2| designates an elongated rod secured to and extending through the upper end portions of the members I! and [8, as shown in Fig. '1. The member 20 is positioned below the fuselage l0 and the member 2| is positioned above the fuselage [0. 'The fuselage l0 isso formed at its upper forward portion that from the seat portion [3 it extends forwardly and upwardly toward the tops of the members I! and I8 and then downwardly and forwardly from the members I! and 18. This portion of the member ID is designated by the numeral 22 and not only gives a proper airplane appearance to the swing, but eliminates any possibility of the hands-of the user getting pinched between the fuselage and the members I! and I8 when the members I! and 18 are reciprocated manually to operate the swing. This is an important feature of my invention inasmuch as not only children, but grown-ups can become severely injured if the upper forward end of the portion of the swing is not provided with the portion 22.

To support the swing, a chain, cable, or like 23 is secured by suitable means to the tail of the fuselage and to a supporting member 24. A similar flexible chain or like 25 is secured to the right outer end of the member 2| and the support 24. A like flexible chain or like 26 is secured to the outer left end of the member 2| and the supporting member 24. The numeral 27 designates a propeller rotatably secured to-the nose of the fuselage. When the swing is used the swinging action of the device forward and back will cause this propeller to rotate. .Blocks 28 may be secured at each side of the nose of the member I!) to simulate' an engine. v H

After the device has been hung it is simple matter for a child to climb upon it and mount it inasmuch as the device is stable with three points of suspension and with the member 29 capable of being used as a step. Once a child has mounted the swing there is no danger of his accidently falling on, as the fuselage Iii is between his legs, the member 20 under his feet, the cut-away portions I4 and I5 embracing the upper portions of his legs, with the member l6 preventing his sliding rearwardly on the device, and with the member 2| supporting his hands. To operate the device the user may pull and push the rod bar 2 i, or he can reciprocate the foot bar 20, or he can operate the members 2| and 2d 1 with both hands and feet simultaneously, thereby causing the swing to move forwardly and rearwardly.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided a swing of unique design and construction and one that is simple to manufacture and safe to use.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my improved self-operated airplane swing without departing from the real tially horizontal, secured at its center to the upper central portion of the first-mentioned elongated member and simulating the wings of an airplane, two bar members at each side of the forward portion of said'first-mentioned elongated member and having their center portions pivoted thereto, a foot bar secured to the lower end portions of said two bar members, a hand bar secured to the upper end portions of said two bar members, a elongated flexible supporting member secured to the rear end portion of said firstmentioned elongated member, and two elongated flexible supporting members spaced apart from each other and secured to said hand bar; said first-mentioned elongated member having its upper forward end portion extending first upwardly and forwardly toward the upper end portions of said two bar members to a point vertically aligned above the pivot point of said two bar members and then immediately downwardly and forwardly from the upper end portions of said two bar membars.

2. In a device of the class described, an elonated fiat member having its width vertical, a fiat elongated member having its width substantially horizontal, secured at its center to the upper central portion of the first-mentioned elongated member and simulating the wings of an airplane, two bar members at each side of the forward portion of said first-mentioned elongated member and having their center portions pivoted thereto, a foot bar secured to the lower end portions of said two bar members, a hand bar secured to the upper end portions of said two bar members, an elongatedilexible supporting member secured to the rear end portion of said firstmentioned elongated member, two elongated flexible supporting members spaced apart from each other and secured to said hand bar; said first-mentioned elongated member having its upper forward end portion extending first upwardly and forwardly toward the upper end portions of said two bar members to a point vertically aligned above the pivot point of said two bar members and then immediately downwardly and forwardly from the upper end portions of said two bar members, and a seat back secured to the rear central top of said second-mentioned elongated flat member.

3. In a device of the class described, an elongated flat member having its width vertical, a fiat elongated member having its width substantially horizontal, secured at its center to the upper central portion of the first-mentioned elongated member and simulating the wings of an airplane, twobar members at each side of the forward portion of said first-mentioned elongated member and having their center portions pivoted thereto, a foot bar secured to the lower end portions of said two bar members, a hand bar secured to the upper end portions of said two bar members, an elongated flexible supporting member secured to the rear end portion of said firstmentioned elongated member, wo elongated flexible supporting members spaced apart from each other and secured to said hand bar; said first-mentioned elongated member having its upper forward end portion extending first upwardly and forwardly toward the upper end portions of said two bar members to a point vertically aligned above the pivot point of said two bar members and then immediately downwardly and forwardly from the upper end portions of said two bar members, a seat back secured to the rear central top of said second-mentioned elongated flat member, and two cut-away portions in the central leading edge portion of said second-mentioned elongated flat member.

l. In a device of the class described, an elongated fiat member having its width vertical, a fiat elongated member having its width substantially horizontal, secured at its center to the upper central portion of the first-mentioned elongated member and simulating the wings of an airplane, two bar members at each side of the forward portion f said first-mentioned elongated member and having their center portions pivoted thereto, a foot bar secured to the lower end portions of said two bar members, a hand bar secured to the upper end portions of said two bar members, an elongated flexible supporting member secured to the rear end portion of said first-mentioned elongated member, two elongated flexible supporting members spaced apart from each other and secured to said hand bar; said firstmentioned elongated member having its upper forward end portion extending first upwardly and forwardly toward the upper end portions of said two bar members to a point vertically aligned above the pivot point of said two bar members and then immediately downwardly and forwardly from the upper end portions of said two bar members, a seat back secured to the rear central top of said second-mentioned elongated fiatmember, two cut-away portions in the central leading edge portion of said second-mentioned elongated flat member, and a propeller rotatably mounted on the forward end of said first-mentioned elongated flat member.

5. In a device of the class described, an elongated fiat member having its width vertical, a flat elongated member having its width substantially horizontal,.seoured at its center to the upper central portion of the first-mentioned elongated member and simulating the wings of an airplane, two'bar members at each side of the forward portion of said first-mentioned elongated member and having their center portions pivoted thereto, a foot bar secured to the lower end portions of said twobar members, a hand bar secured to the upper end portions of said tw bar members, an elongated flexible supporting member secured to the rear end portion of said first-mentioned elongated member, two elongated flexible supporting members spaced apart from each other and secured to said hand bar; said first-mentioned elongated member having its upper forward end portion extending first upwarly and forwardly toward the upper end portions of said two bar members to a point vertically aligned above the pivot point of said two bar members and then immediately downwardly and forwardly from the upper end portions of said two bar members, a seat back secured to the rear central top of said second-mentioned elongated flat member, two

cut-away portions in the central leading edge tion of said first-mentioned elongated flat mem- I ber.

MARTIN E. WALTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,378,598 Myers May 17, 1921 1,763,510 Gill June 10, 1930 1,866,047 Lucas July 5, 1932 2,371,384 Dyer Mar. 13, 1945 2,400,396 Denton May 14, 1946 

